Along the North Sea - a Tulip Tour

Noordwijk aan Zee (Noordwijk on the sea) - in the heart of tulip country!

Did you know that the North Sea Cycle Route is the world's longest signed international cycle route, passing through 7 countries? This bike tour in Holland focuses on the polder land of the North Sea and then also leads into the lovely inland. The setting of your bike tour is Noordwijk aan Zee, founded around 1200 as a fishing village. Today, because of its long sandy beaches, it is a popular vacation spot among Netherlanders and foreigners alike, with nearly a million overnight stays per year.

The area around Noordwijk-Binnen (just inland of Noordwijk aan Zee) has long been an important part of the regional bulb flower industry. The dunes were dug out and transformed into fields for the cultivation of bulb flowers. Noordwijk-Binnen has retained its historic character and in early to mid-April is the perfect area for a bike tour through the tulip fields.

Climate

Remarks

Please note: Tulip season in Holland extends from the end of March to the middle of May but is dependent on temperatures and the weather. Going early or late in the season may affect what is in bloom. Bike pick up is not available on Sundays!

Where You’ll Stay

In the 3 star Prominent Inn Hotel located overlooking the North Sea.

What’s Included

Accommodations for 3 or 6 nights

7-speed hybrid bicycle rental, 4 or 7 days

Breakfasts

Route descriptions & maps

GPS tracks available for download to maps.me (you must bring your own phone holder and battery pack)

Extra Stay

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Tour Dates

2019Arrival possible daily, year round. The best time to see the tulips is mid-April.

Skill Level

Easy self-guided based tour over flat terrain and bike paths; daily distances can be varied.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

PLEASE NOTE, ANY NUMBER OF DAYS/NIGHTS IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS TOUR.

BULBFIELDS ROUTE (visit the Keukenhof), 23-27 mi.This route is especially attractive during the Spring when a lot of the bulbs are in bloom. But also at other times of the year because of the wide variety of bulbs being grown, particularly in August and September when lots of dahlias and gladioluses are in full bloom. From Noordwijk, the route goes through the center of Noordwijkerhout, where you can visit the old little white church. Passing the Oosterduinse Lake (you can go for a swim during the summer) and along the Leidsevaart (canal), you’ll arrive at the bulb fields near Hillegom. Via a very narrow bike path along a small creek and over the historic Veenenburgerlaan (road), you will arrive at the Keukenhof (the famous annual flower show) near Lisse. Passing the old ruin of fortress Teylingen, you’ll arrive in Voorhout. On the way to Rijnsburg, you’ll follow de Elsgeester road through the Elsgeester polder (polder =land reclaimed from the sea) back to Noordwijk.

MEIJENDEL ROUTE, 23-28 mi.This route meanders over quiet bike paths through the dunes going south of Noordwijk and over the busy boulevard of the town of Katwijk to the water conservation area of Meijendel. At the 1.25 mile long boulevard in Katwijk, you will find the St. Andreas Church from the year 1572 and the light tower from 1605. It is one of the oldest in the country. During the summer months, you’ll find a “bomschuit” from 1911 in front of the lighthouse. The small version of this ship was used to fish for shrimp. Through the water conservation area, you’ll cycle to the rich region of Wassenaar-Zuid. Via the old town center, the route goes to the recreation area of the Valkenburgse Meer (meer=lake). Here you can visit the Railroad Museum. Following the “Oude Rijn” (Old Rhine), you’ll cycle through the center of Rijnsburg and via the Elsgeesterpolder (polder = reclaimed land) back to Noordwijk.

VLIETLAND ROUTE, 32-37 mi.Going South, your Dutch bike tour now takes your through dunes and brings you to Katwijk and Wassenaar. You will pass castle Duivenvoorde if you follow the description to visit the castle. Following the Vliet (a canal) you reach the recreation area the Vlietland. Going straight through the University city of Leiden back to Noordwijk. You have the opportunity to leave the route and visit the old center of Leiden. *The first extension makes a detour through the center of Leidschendam and follows the Vliet (canal) until the drawbridge. *The second extension from the drawbridge directs you to the recreation area of Vlietland. Besides an excellent view over the lake with its water birds, you can run into Scottish Highlanders as well. (cattle). These two extensions give you the opportunity to cycle 32.1 or 35.7 miles. And with the two extensions, a total of 36.9 miles.

WIJDE AA ROUTE, 38 mi.(translation: The “Wijde Aa” is a canal) This bike route brings you via Noordijkerhout and the bulb fields near Lisse to the “Rooversbroekpolder” (polder = reclaimed land). Cycling along the Ringvaart (canal) of the Haarlemmermeerpolder and along the Braassemermeer (meer=lake), you will arrive at the little ferry over the Paddegat. You’ll reach Woubrugge and soon the beautiful bike path along the “Wijde Aa” after which this route is named. You will see some old windmills near Hoogmade. Via Rijpwetering through the scenic polders around the “Wijde Aa”, you’ll arrive in Warmond and from there back to Noordwijk-binnen (an old historic center) and Noordwijk.

COUNTRY ESTATES ROUTE, 23-35 mi.This route goes through the beautiful dunes south of Noordwijk to The Hague. The “Coepel” dunes lie between Noordwijk and Katwijk up until the “Wassenaarse Slag” and the nature reserve “Berkheide”, followed by the wooded water conservation area of “Meijendel”. You’ll cycle through The Hague, passing the Peace Palace, the Royal Palace Noordeinde and the “Binnenhof”. Then via the “Haagse Bos” (bos=forest), you’ll enter into Wassenaar, where you’ll continue the route. The country estates seen en route include De Wittenberg, Rust en Vrede, De Wiltzanck, Hartenkamp, Backershagen and the Pauw. The route will also pass the “Valkenburgse Meer”, a recreation area that also has the Railroad Museum. You’ll cycle along the “Oude Rijn” (Old Rhine River) to Katwijk aan de Rijn. Over the terrain of the “Van den Berghstichting” (an institution for people with a mental handicap), the route will bring you back to Noordwijk.

FISHERMAN'S PATH, 11-30 mi.This route goes through the dunes, passing Langevelderslag, along the water conservation area of Amsterdam to Zandvoort. From there via the beautiful Fishermans path to an area called “Kraantje Lek” and then through the rustic town of Aerdenhout. Riding further, you’ll pass the mansion of “Huis te Vogelenzang” and cycle through the bulb fields near De Zilk. Then via the dunes, you’ll ride back to Noordwijk.

WESTEINDER LAKES ROUTE, 32-43 mi.From Noordwijk, you go North through the dunes to Zilk and around Vogelenzang to estate “Oud Woestduin. Via the small forest “Groenendaal” you’ll reach the old center of Heemstede with its “Oude Slot”, a castle dating back to 1290. Past the large pumping house and the museum, “de Cruquius”, the route is crossing “the Ringvaart” (a canal). You’ll pass the outskirts of Haarlem going to Vijfhuizen. From there you follow an old dike. Along this dike, you will find some fortifications, part of an old defense system around Amsterdam. You will pass the Haarlemmermeer forest where the “Floriade” was held in 2002. This is a flower show only held once every 10 years. In Aalsmeer, you will pass the Historic Garden and the Westeinder Lakes. Along the canals, the Amstel, and the Drecht you arrive at the Braassemer Lake where you will cross the canal, the Oude Wetering by ferry. Via the town, Nieuwe Wetering you follow the canal, the Ringvaart to the Buitenkaag. The route continues via Sassenheim and Voorhout back to Noordwijk.

Customer Feedback

The Hotel and Bike store did not know each other and the hotel had to look up on map where the bike store was. It would be better if upon arriving at the hotel, they could point us in the right direction immediately.Our GPS on the bikes were a little old - very small- so it was hard to make out sometimes - if we were following the map correctly. We had to double check on our own phones a few times which gets into roaming charges.The bikes were clean and had good tires/brakes so that was good.Both staff at hotel and bike stores were good.

My husband and I had a wonderful trip. Doing loop rides from one location, instead of moving from one city to another each day, was perfect. It allowed us to become familiar with the area (so many restaurants to try!) and to modify the routes if we desired (for example, one day we cycled to the train station and took a train to Leiden instead of doing a long ride). The folks at TripSite are not kidding when they claim that the Netherlands is a bike friendly place. Certainly the nicest and safest cycling we have experienced! It is hard to say which route was my favorite but Widje AA has a taste of everything - dunes, blub fields, canals, windmills, and charming villages.

My daughter and I had a fabulous trip last easter. The cycle routes were both pretty and the instructions were easy to follow. Neither of us are avid cyclists but the distances were right for a whole days trip. Thank you.

Very enjoyable trip but found the route descriptions hard to follow without detailed map to accompany them. This we rectified by purchasing locally but would have been useful to have at the outset. Would also recommend that bikes are supplied with clipboard on handlebars to make following the maps easier. Constantly stopping to check directions was tiresome. Very comfortable hotel and beautiful beach with stunning scenery. Lovely people and on this occasion .... stunning weather. Great fun

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